Adrien Rabiot rejects PSG extension

Despite playing 25 times for PSG this season, Adrien Rabiot has struggled for a starting role.

The mother and advisor of sought-after midfielder Adrien Rabiot has explained why her son has rejected a contract extension at Paris Saint-Germain, and suggests his future lies outside the French capital.

The Ligue 1 champions have offered Rabiot, 19, a five-year extension to his current deal, which expires in June next year, only to see the teenager rebuff their proposal.

The one-time Manchester City youth academy player is seen as one of Europe's most promising talents, and a host of the continent's premier clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, are reportedly charting his progress.

Though he appeared 25 times in PSG's title-winning campaign, Rabiot made just 12 starts under Laurent Blanc last season, and Veronique Rabiot told Le Parisien her son's lack of sufficient playing time meant he was unwilling to commit his long-term future to the club.

"Adrien is tied to PSG for another year, but he doesn't want to sign a contract extension," she said. "That said, there is no question at the moment of trying to force a departure this summer.

"We simply wish to talk to the club and get their agreement on us responding to enquiries. If not, Adrien will stay at PSG till the end of his contract next June.

"At his age, 19, a player is not yet the finished article. Consequently, Adrien absolutely must play matches at the highest level regularly in order to improve.

"From that point of view, the first part of the season was encouraging, but after that, from February, he made just five starts in the league and one in the Champions League."

With Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and Yohan Cabaye all ahead of him in the race for the three midfield places in Blanc's preferred 4-3-3 formation, and with Javier Pastore and Clement Chantome -- who has returned after a loan spell at Toulouse -- also competing for a spot in the side, Rabiot's chances of playing next season remain limited.

"Adrien cannot afford to spend a season on the bench. That would have a very negative effect on the rest of his career," his mother explained. "At his age, if you don't go forward, you go back.

"Adrien has lofty ambitions. His goal is to get into the French national team and play at Euro 2016. That seems like it would be difficult to do if he stays at PSG."